Battlefields & Blessings by Terry Tuley

Reviewed by Sheryl Root

"...a unique resource for anyone who wants to draw closer to the Lord on a daily basis."

History lovers, especially Civil War buffs, will appreciate the personal stories of faith and courage shared in the daily devotional Battlefields & Blessings by Terry Tuley. Through the private letters and diary entries of men and women of faith, we are given a fascinating, intimate glimpse into the everyday lives, struggles, and bravery of those on both sides of the Civil War.

Each day's devotional reading includes a scripture verse, an excerpt from a letter or diary entry, and brief commentary tying the two together. The sources used for each quotation are well documented in the notes section at the back of the book for any who might like to delve deeper.

Here is an example from the June 3rd reading titled In the Hands of a Merciful God:

Mary Bethell wrote in her diary:

Last Thursday the 30th my dear son George left us to join the army; he joined the same company of his brother Willy. I suppose they have gone to Richmond, where there are 40,000 soldiers so 'tis said, it is a consolation to believe that my sons are in the hands of a merciful God. I hope and pray that they may be permitted to return home, if consistent with the Lord's will, I pray to God every day in their behalf, it is a trial to me, but I pray that our Country may enjoy peace and be independent. The thought of a bloody war is awful to contemplate.

Many mothers sent their sons off to war not knowing if they would ever see them again. My wife and I wept when our daughter Ashley left for college. It is hard to comprehend the courage the mothers must have had to send their sons into a bloody war not knowing if they would return.

Mary Bethell said it was consolation to "believe that her sons were in the hands of a merciful God." She prayed for them every day. Solomon pleaded for mercy in his prayer. The Lord has mercy on them who pray and humble themselves before him.

For many parents and soldiers in the Civil War, it was God or nothing.

Where can we go but to the Lord?

Yet give attention to your servant's prayer and his plea for mercy, O Lord my God. Hear the cry and the prayer that your servant is praying in your presence (2 Chronicles 6:19 NIV).

God's truths are eternal, and the lessons learned by our Christian brothers and sisters so many years ago are still applicable to us today. Battlefields & Blessings is a unique resource for anyone who wants to draw closer to the Lord on a daily basis, and would be a perfect gift for that history-lover in your life.

Sheryl Root is a voracious reader and aspiring author who started writing book reviews to ease her guilt about all the time she spends reading. In addition to this purely selfish reason for reviewing, she loves to be able to support Christian authors and spread the word on great books. She is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers, a wonderful community of published and yet to be published writers, where she learns an amazing amount of practical wisdom to help in her writing journey. Sheryl has also written reviews for Armchair Interviews.com.